House passes contraception bill that threatens life and religious liberty

The House on Thursday passed the Right to Contraception Act by a final vote of 228-195. The vote was split mostly on party lines, with 220 Democrats and only eight Republicans voting in favor of the bill. It’s still unclear if the Senate will bring the bill forward for a vote.

Is your church ready to respond to a post-Roe world?

The release of the Dobbs decision marks a true turning point in the pro-life movement — a moment that Christians, pro-life advocates and many others have worked toward tirelessly for 50 years. As we respond to the ruling in this case, we want to be faithful to pray.

This free Dobbs prayer guide contains a list of 48 specific prayer requests to guide you, your family, and your church in your prayers over the coming weeks and months.

This Week in Washington, D.C.

As Congress continues to grapple with the fallout of the Dobbs decision, this week the House of Representatives voted on two related pieces of legislation: the Respect for Marriage Act and the Right to Contraception Act. These two bills that codify the right to same-sex marriage and contraception respectively may not see directly related to the issue of abortion, but were mentioned as rights that should be reconsidered by the Supreme Court in Justice Thomas’ lone concurrence in the Dobbs decision.

In response to that fear and in light of the upcoming elections, Democrats in House of Representatives passed, with some Republican support, these two pieces of legislation. The ERLC opposed both bills and is continuing to advocate against their passage in the Senate.

The Respect for Marriage Act, codifying the right to same-sex marriage that was established in Obergefell, received the support of 47 Republicans. As Acting President Brent Leatherwood said, “Its passage by the House is yet another reminder of how far our culture has moved away from the biblical understanding of marriage as being between one man and one woman for life and why God’s design for that union is meant for our flourishing.”

Though Southern Baptists hold a variety of views on the issue of contraception and the bill seems largely uncontroversial for most Americans, the Right to Contraception Act that was passed by the House of Representatives is concerning because of its broad definition of “contraception” that could include potential abortifacients and its substantial overruling of religious freedom protections.

Featured Podcasts

On last week's episode of the ERLC Podcast, Brent and Lindsay discuss inflation’s jaw-dropping rate, the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Japan, and the amazing new space images from the James Webb Telescope.

From The Public Square

Louisiana abortion ban case awaits ruling from state judge
ABC News

A temporary order blocking enforcement of the trigger laws on a state ban on abortion will be kept in place until Tuesday, when a state judge will hear further arguments from the state and an abortion clinic and others who are challenging the state ban.

IVF: A Second Front in the Cause for Life
Public Discourse

In vitro fertilization is likely more threatening to unborn life than abortion. The pro-life movement needs to recognize this reality and form a coherent post-Roe strategy for addressing both abortion and life-negating reproductive technologies.

U.S. houses of worship increase security after shootings
Associated Press

Houses of worship are meant to be places of shelter, reflection and peace, where strangers are welcome. But the recent string of high-profile mass shootings in the U.S. is a reminder violence can happen anywhere, prompting some faith leaders to ramp up security.

Georgia abortion law challenge now focused on 'personhood'
Associated Press

Lawyers for the state of Georgia urged a federal appeals court to allow the state's 2019 abortion law to take effect now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled there is no constitutional right to an abortion.

What You Need to Read

Jason Thacker with Why Roe is about more than just abortion

As Christians seek to navigate a culture reeling from the pains of rejecting the created order as well as the details of each of these bills, we must do so with eyes open to the reality of what is being revealed. Abortion was never simply about abortion; it represents an entire way of viewing the social order through the lens of individualism and moral autonomy. It is at the very heart of the modern project of crafting our own meanings and realities—“my truth”—based on our own feelings and desires rather than recognizing that meaning and truth is rooted in a transcendent order given by our Creator.

C. Ben Mitchell with The legacy of Christian caregiving

I thank God for the rich legacy of Christian caregiving we have been entrusted by our forefathers and foremothers. Their service has shown us what it means to love God by loving our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37). Most of all, I am for those selfless strangers who were called to care for my dad in his time of greatest need. In so doing, they faithfully upheld the inherent dignity given to him by his Creator and gave our family an invaluable peace of mind that Dad was in good, kind, and caring hands.

Chris Martin with 5 ways pastors can equip their congregations to use social media

Social media is at the center of our culture right now. It touches everything, and it’s well past time that the church pays attention to it and how it’s affecting the church. Because of our sin, we will not stumble into a right relationship with social media. If we hope to use social media wisely and encourage church members to do the same, we need to be intentional.